Latest releases reviewed
OLIVER TWIST ***
Directed by Roman Polanski. Starring Ben Kingsley, Barney Clark 12A cert
There are many reasons to admire Kingsley's powerful - though still racially dubious - performance as Fagin. Clark is feisty and unselfconscious in the title role, and the Victorian ambience is well maintained without becoming too cosy. But, for all that, Polanski offers little you wouldn't expect to see in an averagely classy BBC adaptation of Dickens's novel. Donald Clarke
BOY EATS GIRL ***
Directed by Stephen Bradley. Starring Samantha Mumba, David Leon, Deirdre O'Kane 18 cert
Zombies prowl the Dublin suburbs in Bradley's entertaining transposition of the US teen horror movie to a deftly employed Irish context. Michael Dwyer
NANNY MCPHEE ***
Directed by Kirk Jones. Starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, Kelly Macdonald, Derek Jacobi, Angela Lansbury G cert
This darkish anti-Poppins in which Thompson's warty nanny (a strangely inanimate performance) turns up at undertaker Firth's house to sort out his unruly children was one of the surprise hits at last year's box office. Though the picture is ho-hum at best, the DVD, well stocked with featurettes and commentaries, should also set cash tills ringing. Donald Clarke
THE LAST MITTERAND ****
Directed by Robert Guédiguian. Starring Michel Bouquet PG cert
Fictionalised account of the last months in the life of François Mitterrand features meditations on death, political disillusion and the legacy of the Nazi occupation. Not surprisingly it is often grim and intense. But, thanks to a sincere central performance by Bouquet, it remains gripping throughout. A fine political film. Donald Clarke
THE PERFECT CATCH **
Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. Starring Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Jason Spevack, Jack Kehler, Ione Skye, Jobeth Williams, James B Sikking 12 cert
The Farrellys' DVD commentary on this baseball-themed remake of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch is so dull you might almost prefer to listen to the dialogue. Almost. Though competently made, the picture, which sees Barrymore and Fallon fall in and out of love as the Boston Red Sox hurtle towards the World Series, deals in nothing but rom-com cliche.Donald Clarke
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS **
Directed by Ken Kwapis. Starring Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrara, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Bradley Whitford, Nancy Travis, Rachel Ticotin PG cert
Four chums share a pair of pants - that's trousers, hygiene fans - while having adventures in far-flung corners of the globe. Gooey, sentimental and anaemic this teen drama may be, but the DVD will still provide respectable, morally responsible entertainment at slumber parties (if there still are such things). Donald Clarke
MUST LOVE DOGS *
Directed by Gary David Goldberg. Starring Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer, Dermot Mulroney, Stockard Channing 12 cert
Desperate target audience - 16-35, white, female - seeks insufferably bland romantic comedy DVD to enjoy alone with pizza, fags and Chardonnay. Plot unimportant but could make do with something like: heroine's sister places internet lonely-hearts advertisement on heroine's behalf, leading to dates with many idiots, then hero. Laughs not expected. Donald Clarke
THE PERFECT MAN **
Directed by Mark Rosman. Starring Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth, Mike O'Malley PG cert
Hilary Duff, depressed that her mother (Locklear) can never find the right man, begins sending her notes and e-mails from an imagined chef modelled on her best friend's cute uncle. Weedier teenage girls should like it well enough, though I preferred The Simpsons episode in which Bart did something similar to Mrs Krabappel. Donald Clarke
